The expedition cruise ship was hit by rough seas on Thursday and temporarily lost power.
There were no serious injuries to the passengers or crew on the MS mode ship operated by HX. Formerly Hurtigruten Expeditions. A spokeswoman said the ship was en route from Frollo, Norway, to Tilbury, England, at the time.
The ship’s condition “remains stable and the crew is able to navigate under its own power,” it said in an emailed statement. MS Mode carries 266 passengers and 131 crew members.
“Following ongoing safety checks and technical assessments, we have decided to revise the planned sailing route taking into account the weather conditions,” the spokesperson added. “Thorough operating procedures are in place across the fleet and we always prioritize the safety of our crew.”
The ship is currently en route to Bremerhaven, Germany, where the crew will disembark. The company’s team is working on arranging the guests’ return travel.
The rogue waves, also known as “abnormal storm waves,” are reported to be more than twice the size of other nearby waves. National Oceanic Bureau. They are rare and unpredictable, and “often come unexpectedly from directions other than prevailing winds and waves.”
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An HX spokesperson said: “We work closely with health and safety experts, maintain a highly trained crew, and collaborate with third-party suppliers and maritime authorities to prevent potential crises. “We are ensuring strict measures are in place to prevent and control it.”
A similar accident occurred last year on a Viking Polaris, killing one passenger and injuring four others.
“Cruise ships and their corporate headquarters are constantly reviewing weather conditions to ensure the safest and smoothest passages,” Stewart Shillon, a cruise industry expert known as Cruise Guy, told USA TODAY via email. told. “Unfortunately, Mother Nature does not always cooperate and at this time the ship is forced to respond.”
He said bad waves rarely hit cruise ships, but they could happen depending on the location and time of year.
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. Please contact us at ndiller@usatoday.com.